ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT. THEY PROVIDE GREAT PLEASURE WHILE GROWING IN VALUE!

WE WELCOME YOU TO CLASSICLITERATI AUCTIONS

Hypnotic Magical All Seeing Eye!...Mystical!

PRESENTING A RARE & VERY BEAUTIFUL ORNATE ANTIQUE Circa 1850's MASTERFULLY ENGRAVED SILK ODD FELLOWS SYMBOLIC RITUAL APRON!

AN EXPRESSIVE MUSEUM PIECE!

Independent Order of Odd Fellows!

A MOST BEAUTIFUL ARTISTIC EXAMPLE!

PULSATING HUMAN HEART IN HAND!

ALL SEEING EYE! EXPLOSIVE LIGHT!

IDEALS OF BENEVOLENCE & CHARITY!

A WORK OF GREAT HISTORY & MAGIC!

MARVELOUS HISTORIC DISPLAY PIECE!

INFLUENCED BY THE ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND ARTS OF FREEMASONRY, THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING MILITARY STYLED PIECE FROM THE "INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS"!

A GREAT COLLECTING OPPORTUNITY!

Visit Our Classicliterati Auctions Each Week For...

Fascinating, Historic & Unique Collectible Treasures!

Regarded by Collectors Worldwide as the Leading Specialist in Masonic, Knights Templar, Odd Fellows, Fraternal and other Secret Society Antiques & Collectibles! We also Feature Many Other Fascinating Collectibles from Throughout the World!

We Treat You Like Royalty!!!

KEEP CHECKING OUR CLASSICLITERATI AUCTIONS!

This is a masterful and very rare early engraved silken ritual apron hailing from the Odd Fellows. Dating back to circa the 1890's, this Masonic inspired artifact is one of the highest quality examples. A true museum piece. Very mystical and captivating. The apron is well over 150 years old and it is in very good vintage condition for its age with some normal expected age wear. There are common folds from storage. The lower area in the middle has is a thin, straight split and there is some light staining. There are no cords. This age wear means very little when compared to the high artistic quality, scarcity and historical significance of this superior quality apron. The backside and reverse of flap are lined. If one decides to frame this apron, they will have acquired a great showpiece. It measures approximately 16 ½ x 14 ¾ inches. This is a true collectors piece! INSPIRED BY FREEMASONRY! This apron owes much to a shared legacy of Masonic traditions and teachings. It is a fact that "Odd Fellowship", both artistically and philosophically belongs to the history of Freemasonry. In spite of much continuous confusion regarding both groups, the historical kinship can not and should not be denied. This is a fine old piece from a significant organization of people who dreamed of changing the world for the better. Of creating and building a society where no human being would suffer neglect and apathy. Visit the sick. Help the destitute. Bury the dead. Those are among the many ancient Biblical principles embodied by this great group. There is so much artistry to be admired here. Do not allow this historic memento to get away from you. We regularly feature extremely attractive and also very rare, top quality antiques including among the finest in Fraternal and Masonic Swords and Historic Relics as well as many other fascinating items. Among our clients are Museums and Archives as well as many collectors the world over. Please keep checking our Classicliterati auctions. We try to describe items to the best of our ability. If you have any questions, please ask before bidding. FREE SHIPPING IN USA. Payment is expected within 5 days of auction close. FOREIGN SALES: Shipping this item to another country requires that it will only be sent with full INSURANCE and TRACKING which is EXPENSIVE. International bidders should first ask about exact shipping costs. Payment in $USA funds only. Thank You.

FREEMASONRY, ODD FELLOWSHIP & MASONS

Known as the "Three Link Fraternity", the various Orders of” Odd Fellows” around the world, while often being mislabeled as belonging to the Masonic fraternity (which they were not), were nonetheless heavily connected to Freemasonry in more then just a small handful of ways. Inspired by Freemasonry, the Odd Fellows as a movement came to America from England (splitting from the “Manchester Unity Order of Odd Fellows”) and by the 1880's they had become one of the largest (and due to their phenomenal insurance benefits, they at one time were THE largest) of all so-called "Secret" or Fraternal Societies in the United States (even outnumbering the Masons). While borrowing many Masonic symbols and regalia, such as the use of Aprons, images of Skulls, Beehives, the All-Seeing-Eye, Globes among hundreds of other Masonic elements and also following along the esoteric and spiritual lines of the Masonic Brotherhood, the Odd Fellows performed a wide variety of colorful and esoteric oriented rituals and initiations. Unjustly condemned by misguided segments within Catholicism and some other churches as being an Occult organization, with Pagan and even Satanic ideals, the misunderstood Odd Fellows, nonetheless thrived greatly during that early period. Standing for the universal human principles of "Friendship, Love and Truth", the group formed a significant nucleus of esoteric America and other parts of the world such as England, the Netherlands, Australia, etc. It should be mentioned that the Odd Fellows, like the Masons existed all over the world. While today no longer a prominent presence, curiously, there are still branches in Europe, Australia, etc. One often recognizes this Order by the three letters, "FLT" which stand for "FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & TRUTH" and which appears on much of their regalia. Their mottos included the following: VISIT THE SICK, RELIEVE THE DISTRESSED, BURY THE DEAD and EDUCATE THE ORPHANS. Much forgotten is the fact that (perhaps because of the insurance benefits), over two thirds (if not more) of all Odd Fellows consisted of members who also belonged to Masonry. Although today quite a small organization, we ourselves are aware of individual Odd Fellow members who are also active in their Masonic Lodges. The military-like “Patriarchs Militant”, once a spectacular feature as units in massive parades, with their extravagant costumes and brandishing their highly ornate swords, betray the obvious influence of the Masonic Order of Knights Templar.

Dual membership in Odd Fellowship and Freemasonry was once very common. For reference purposes, below are two historic photographs: The first shows a jointly owned old building which served both as Odd Fellows Hall and Masonic Temple:

This 19th Century Tombstone shows how very passionate this individual was about his membership in both the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders.

CHECK OUR AUCTIONS EACH WEEK FOR A WIDE SELECTION OF THE FINEST MASONIC & FRATERNAL SWORDS, ANTIQUES & OTHER FASCINATING QUALITY COLLECTIBLES!

AN NOW...ON TO OUR GREAT ITEM!

MASTERFUL ANTIQUE HISTORIC ODD FELLOWS APRON!

Notice of Copyright Ownership

Please be advised that ALL and ANY parts of this Auction Ad are fully protected under the rules of International Copyright Law. Any unauthorized reproduction of any part or parts of this auction ad (text & picture) is in direct violation of the law as well as of eBay rules. No part or parts of this ad may be reproduced without permission.